Strandhill golf club Sligo

Strandhill Golf Course

A visit to Strandhill Golf Course is a must for any golfing visitor to Sligo. Situated 5 miles west of the City of Sligo and nestled under the famous Knocknarea Mountain, you can enjoy playing a truly natural 18 hole links course any time of the year. Its 5,800 m of undulating fairways and unforgiving short cuts makes it a course to remember. The player can also enjoy an uninterrupted view of spectacular scenery made famous in Song and Story.

Strandhill Golf Club has a fully equipped Golf Shop with club hire, buggy hire etc. and Golfing Lessons available all year. Full Bar and Catering Facilities. Lounge Menu available all day. Group rates available.

Notable rounds

Men's Course Record: 61 Derek McNamara (Connemara G.C.) (Old)

Ladies Course Record:

Members Achievements

Strandhill Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield when they beat Tuam Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match on 10th August 2014.They were lead out by Peter McDonnell with Ciaran Henry who beat Darren O’Connor with Joe Waters by 2-holes, they were followed by David Lindsay with Tristan Probst who halved their match against Kevin Fallon with Joe Leufer next up was Robbie Henneberry with Ronnie Conlon who had a 4 and 2 win over John P. Keane with Shane Quinn, the penultimate match of Noel Tivnan with Brian Henry was a comfortable 4 and 3 win over Paul Burke with Ross Kelly, the bottom match was halved between Jim Branley with John Howley and John Bodkin with Matthew Murphy. They made their way to Carton House to compete in the All-Ireland deciders on the O’Meara Course where they were drawn against Munster Champions Lisselan Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were lead out by Robbie Henneberry with Ronnie Conlon who lost their match against Leo Hassett with Andrew Whelton by 6 and 5, they were followed by Peter McDonnell with Ciaran Henry who had a 2 and 1 win over Paul Corcoran with Richard Fitton, next up were David Lindsay with Tristan Probst who lost their match by 3 and 2 against Raymond Hayes with Paschal Hayes, the penultimate match was halved between Noel Tivnan with Brian Henry and Donnacha Crowley with Richard Fleming, the bottom match of John Stewart with Dave Hannigan was lost by 5 and 4 against Eoin Ryan with Cathal Kirby.

Strandhill Golf Club won the Connacht Final when they beat Athenry Golf Club by 1-hole in the decider. First on the tee was Darragh Higgins (3) with Tristan Probst (12) against Peter Dolan (7) & Pat Croghan (10) who lost by 2-holes. The bottom match of Philip Moriarty (9) with Ciaran Fox (7) against Thomas Reaney (9) with Blaine Niland (12) say the result reversed with a 3-hole win for the Sligo team.

Strandhill Golf Club won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Westport Golf Club in August 2008.They made the long journey to Monkstown Golf Club on the outskirts of Cork City where they were drawn against the home club on Friday 19th September, when home advantage came into play.First on the tee was David Lindsey with David Keane against Ken Tracy with Donal McCarthy, they lost out by 4 and 3. They were followed by Darragh Higgins with Patrick Hickey who had one of those days against Nick Hayes with Carl Toal, when they lost out by 8 and 6. Next up was Garry Kilbride with Dessie Timbs who lost by 6 and 5 to Denis Daly with John Barry. The penultimate match of Patrick Togher with John Howley was halved against John Tobin with Niall Kennedy as was the bottom match of Liam Kavanagh with Colin Walsh against Dave O’Leary with Mark Hickey.

Strandhill Golf Club won the Jack O'Sullivan Trophy in 2007, when they beat Castlebar Golf Club in the final, by 8 matches to 2 matches.The first leg was played at home on Saturday 1st September, when Declan Rooney (7) with Patrick O'Hara (15) beat Kevin Connolly (6) with Dom Molly (14) by 2 and 1, they were followed by Gerard Fox (5) with David Lindsey (12) who beat Brendan Frost (5) with Peter Horkan (10) on the 19th. Next up was Michael Keane (7) with Patrick Hickey (9) who beat Rory Courell (5) with Jim McGovern (9) by 1-hole. The penultimate match was Mark Whirly (5) with Brendan Kerrigan (12) who beat Padraic Hurst (5) with Val Jennings (11) by 3 and 1. The anchor pair of Rory O'Connor (3) with Desmond Timbs (8) against Stephen Munnelly (5) with Pat Waldron (11) delivered a comfortable 4 and 3 win for the home team.It was on to Castlebar Golf Club on Saturday 8th September for the decider, with Strandhill only needing only a halve to clinch the trophy. Declan Rooney (7) with Patrick O'Hara (15) lead the way with a win over Brendan Frost (5) with Colin Dawson (13). They were followed by Rory O'Connor (3) with Desmond Timbs (8) who halved their match with Pat Waldron (11) with Stephen Munnelly (5). They were followed by Gerry Fox (5) with David Lindsay (12) against Ken Irwin (2) with Jim McGovern (9) who halved their match. Next up were Mark Weherly (5) with Brendan Kerrigan (12) who halved their match against Kevin Connolly (6) with Dom Molloy (14). The final match saw Michael Keane (7) with Patrick Hickey (9) who returned a halve against Padraic Hurst (5) with Val Jennings (11), to return a convincing win and bridge an 12 year gap.

K. O'Neill was selected on the Connacht team for the Interprovincial Matches played at Portmarnock Golf Club from 11th to 13th August 2004.

James Burke was selected on the Connacht Boys' team for Interprovincial Championships at Headfort Golf Club from August 28-30 2002.

Prior to 2001:

Strandhill won the Connacht Final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield when they beat Athlone. They went on to meet The Heath in the All-Ireland semi-final at Lahinch on 22nd September 2000. The squad was Jimmy Mungovan, Noel Tivnan, Paul Murphy, Aron Brennan, David Lyndsay, Paddy Cox, Joe Curley, Mark Whearly, Padraig Duggan, David Kelly, Paddy Waters, John Stewart, Declan Rooney, Conal McGettigan, James Burke, Brian Kiernan and Gerry Kilbride. They went down to The Heath in the Semi-Final. The team was Mark Whearly with James Burke, Declan Rooney with Noel Tivnan, Paul Murphy with David Lyndsay, Paddy Cox with Joe Curley and John Stewart with Gerry Kilbride.

They won the Connacht Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield and were National Finalists in 1994, when team was Paddy Cox, Martin Donoghue, Noel Mullaney, Dermot Flynn, Padraig Hanley, Brian Harte, Fr. Michael McDonnell, John McGowan, Kiernan, Tom Bradley, Waters Ray Tracey.

Poppy Hunt (22), Lady Captain 2000 and her Captain's prize winner Maxie Slowey (34), qualified for the National Finals of the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captain's Classic, at Druid's Glen, when they shot 39 points at a windy Headfort Golf Club in August, 2000.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

John S. Graham represented Ireland as a Senior International from 1938 to1951 playing 14-times won 5-matches halved two and lost 7-match accumulating 12-points;

Tommy McGowan represented Ireland at international Youths level from 2007 to 2009 playing 4-matches won 1-matches and lost 5-matches accumulating 10-points. He represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 2007 to 2009 playing 7-times won 2-matches halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 5-points. He represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 2008 to 2009 playing 12-times won 6-matches and lost 6-matches accumulating 12-points. He represented Connacht at the Boys Interprovincial from 2004 to 2007 playing 20-times won 5-matches halved four and lost 11-matches accumulating 14-points;

Keith O’Neill represented Connacht at Senior Interprovincial level from 2004 to 2006 playing 18-times won 7-matches halved two and lost 9-matches accumulating 16-points;

Joseph Dolan represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial from 1974 to 1975 playing 8-times won 1-match and lost 7-matches accumulating 2-points;

Declan Rooney represented Connacht as a Youth Interprovincial in 1976 playing 2-times won 0-matches and lost 2-matches accumulating 0-points;

James Burke represented Connacht at the Boys' Interprovincial in 2002 playing 4-times won 1-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 2-points;

Daire Higgins represented Connacht at the Boys' Interprovincial in 2010 playing 4-times won 0-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 0-points;

Eoin Moriarty represented Connacht at the Boys' Interprovincial in 1996 playing 6-times won 3-matches halved one and lost 2-matches accumulating 7-points;

Rory O’Connor represented Connacht at the Boys' Interprovincial from 2000 to 2001 playing 6-times won 3-matches and lost 3-matches accumulating 6-points;

Darragh O’Sullivan represented Connacht at the Boys' Interprovincial from 2009 to 2010 playing 11-times won 4-matches halved two and lost 5-matches accumulating 10-points;

History of Strandhill

Founded 1931 Affiliated 1936

What the Club tells us:

In 1939, John McAlister from Dublin was engaged to design a new nine-hole course over the existing land and this was opened in May 1940, a year which also saw the first Winter League played on the links. This was the first of its kind in Irish golf today most other clubs have followed suit. As the second world war had broken out, no cars were on the road due to petrol rationing and approximately forty golfers could be seen cycling their way from town to the golf club, some five miles away, with their clubs strung over the shoulders. History, unfortunately, does not record how they got home.

In 1945, there was a rare conflict between the club and the GUI over a competition played for in Strandhill called 'The Blue Label Cup'. The club stated that the cup was named after a famous racehorse, but the GUI suspected that it was named after an even more famous brand of whiskey. The GUI's view prevailed, and the competition was renamed 'The Nally Cup'.

In 1946, a new competition called the North West Inter-Club Shield was started up. This was a forerunner for what is now called The Connacht Shield. Strandhill have a proud record in this competition, and have won it on several occasions. They were also the first time to retain the trophy, having won it back-to-back in 1982 and 1983. Also in 1946, the club acquired Bustard's Lodge, the site on which our award-winning clubhouse was built. This was opened in 1948 when a drinks license was obtained.

The present 18-hole course was opened in 1973 (subsequently redesigned with the input of several members) as also was the new modern clubhouse, most of which was incorporated into the new building which was unveiled in 1997.

However, following the accidental destruction of the clubhouse in 2005, a new chapter has been embarked upon with the development of a new clubhouse in 2006, the year in which Strandhill celebrated its 75th anniversary. The older version of the clubhouse had won the AIB Connacht Clubhouse of the Year award in 2004.

The club can be particularly proud of its achievements on the inter-club stage, where it has garnered 20 GUI provincial pennants during its involvement in the Cups and Shields. In 2006, our ladies branch, after years of tireless effort, were deserved winners of the AA Ireland Junior Foursomes title, securing their first ILGU Western District pennant in the process.

In addition, the club had much to celebrate in 2007 when 17-year-old Tommy McGowan was selected for the Irish Youths team which participated in the annual representative match with Wales. Tommy earned his first Irish cap on the back of an incredible performance in the West of Ireland championship that Easter, when he reached the semi-finals.